Today is the 57th anniversary of one of the worst sporting disasters in history, when an aircraft carrying the Manchester Utd F.C. team crashed on take-off. Twenty-three of the forty-four passengers and crew perished on that tragic day.
Returning from a European Cup clash against Red Star Belgrade (in what is now Serbia), the plane had to stop and refuel in a cold and snowy Munich. On board were a flight crew of six, the Manchester United team, and a number of other passengers, including several journalists.
On the third attempt at take-off, the Airspeed Ambassador started to slide on slush, crashed through a fence, and hit a house.
Those who lost their lives were :
Crew
Captain Kenneth Rayment (Pilot), who died from his injuries three weeks later.
Tom Cable (Cabin Steward)
Manchester United Players
Geoff Bent
Roger Byrne
Eddie Colman
Duncard Edwards, who died 15 days after the crash,
Mark Jones
David Pegg
Tommy Taylor
Liam "Billy" Whelan
Manchester United Staff
Walter Crickmer (Club Secretary)
Tom Curry (Trainer)
Bert Whalley (Chief Coach)
Other Passengers
Alf Clarke (Journalist)
Donny Davies (Journalist)
George Follows (Journalist)
Tom Jackson (Journalist)
Archie Ledbrooke (Journalist)
Bela Miklos (Travel Agent)
Henry Rose (Journalist)
Willie Satinoff (Racecourse Owner, and friend of Manager Matt Busby).
Frank Swift (Journalist, and former Manchester City and England goalkeeper).
Eric Thompson (Journalist)
Of the survivors, players Jackie Blanchflower and Johnny Berry never played again.
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